Monthly archives "January"

I’m really down with the new Ant-Man and Wasp trailer. Items that make thus:

Finally, a score that is definitive. One of the disappointing things about the MCU is the lack of striking scores. Thor: Ragnarok got close, with the Grandmaster theme, which I totally associate with the film; but it begins with the same lukewarm MCU banner theme. This one has that crunchy vibe, like the Wonder Woman theme. I dig it. I hope it makes it past the trailers.

Evangeline Lilly looks completely invested and believable in the role. I’m delighted with the execution

Lots of playing around with Pym Particles. That’s the lynchpin to this series. The more the better. I’m not sure where Pym’s rolling suitcase bits go when the building is full scale (and my architect brain reels at impossibillium used to maintain structural integrity in all these things) but that Hello Kitty moment is the BEST

G H O S T. While the comics version from Thunderbolts was a completely hollywood-ready design, this adaption looks pretty clean

Welp, DC’s latest streamer sounds like hot garbage. I mean, if the premise bores me, we’re in trouble. Like Krypton. Like Lois and Clark before it. Like Gotham turned out to be. Superheroes without the superheroes done wrong.

While Chris Claremont’s work in my youth was both influential and nauseating, depending on where, when and what, I agree that at the time, the Dark Phoenix saga, along with Alpha Flight #12, cemented in my mind the value in ramifications and permanence in comics storytelling. Admittedly, a Phoenix by definition reincarnates, but her rebirth was the slippery slope into the devlauation of these sorts of events that had real meaning. Comics always ate themselves and rewrote their own stories, and that’s fine for the medium, but the Phoenix story tried to tell a pretty mature story of change and loss and impossible decisions, which I appreciated. Interesting timing, this documentary, coming out before the Dark Phoenix film. Also, nice to see the nod to Louise Simonson.

I still don’t know how I feel about Jack Ryan. I want it to be good. John Krazinski went to the gym, and is a pretty good actor. But he still has a comedic face. I don’t know. I’m not saying it’s fair. He just looks KIND.

OK, at this point I’m just getting pissed off. I want this Dundee business to be REAL, not a tourism ad. Come ON. Plus, you know, Lil’ Donk.

OK, that’s all for now. There’s a storm coming. Typhoon style. And me without my speedo!

The Ultimate Unboxing Video, by goneintorapture.com. I still can’t stop staring at it. I love it so.

Meanwhile, in space:

While the execution is a little rough, i like the concept of Westworld viral being Delos interfaces and data screens that have been corrupted by bloody warnings and cries for help. Also, I’m holding my breath until Westworld S02, thanks. LOVE it.

This look at the new tech used to film the Valkyrie flashbacks in Ragnarok is fascinating, if you’re into that sort of thing, which I am. Otherwise, just look at the test footage, which feels like a microcosm glance at how fun that shoot must have been. All the behind the scenes stuff makes Waititi feel like a force of nature. A subversive one.

I loved this video. I love scale videos. Scale fascinates me. I appreciates that the scale reference module shifts in the video, from a human to a dump truck to the Statue of Liberty. I don’t quite understand the scale mismatch on the Xenomorph (2.1m) and Predator (2.2m) but otherwise very cool. I think my favorite was classic Mothra, complete with a 747 for scale.

The fanbase for Monty Python is dying out (more figuratively than literally, one hopes) but for those of us who remember the animations, here’s great archival of Gilliam walking an interviewer through the cut-animation process. Love it. As the so . of past-up artists in the days before digital, I enjoy reminders of the hands-on crafter approach to all of this prior to the advent of modern tools.

Jessica Jones S02, March 08, that’s all we need to know. No spoilers so far, which I appreciate, other than hints of Purple Man.

Hans Zimmer is apparently scoring Dark Phoenix. This is only important because Zimmer was supposedly retired from supers films. I just love his scores, regardless of the super side of it, but I do think he elevates material.

Welp, not one day later, here we are with the first photos. Outrage! Delight! The interweb is confused, but angry! But not! So, here’s my two thoughts on it. No, three thoughts.

The colors evoke classic Kree military green and white

The Avengers Infinity War and 4th Film are, I believe, going to give us either alternate reality, or timey-wimey monkeying around, so this could be one VERSION of her. In fact, she could even be used as the narrative gateway to the changes. Ie. look, she’s checking out a newspaper. Classic time travel/ mirror universe situational awareness stuff.

Check out how Marvel’s approach to the powerful woman, once again, is a fully costumed and even armored, character, despite the actress being easily sexualized if they chose to. Black Widow, Wasp, and now Captain Marvel.

Moving on, here’s some Robot’s Root!

Salvador Larroca has illustrated some of my favorite runs. I’m saddened to see what’s happening on Star Wars. In his defense, I’m wondering if editorial is smooshing some photmanip onto those faces in post? It’s possible (sniff) that he’s the one doing it, as he’s definitely relied on photo ref a lot on his portrait work, along with many other artists. But this is beyond the space pale.

I’m currently investigating if I can download the Phillip P Dick anthology offline for my upcoming international travels. Here’s a ranking of all the episodes…

That John Wick series on Starz is set to focus on the Continental… Keannu appearances not confirmed. I’m cool with it. I love love LOVE assassins guilds. We have one in the TRDL Universe in fact.

I find the backstory about Phasma, from her armor being made from Palpatine’s Yacht plating, to her involvement in Hux’s assassination of his own father, immensely interesting. GRUMBLE.

Having wrapped up another comic convention the other weekend, I’ve been thinking a lot about cosplay. Among all the other aspects that I appreciate about this phenomenon (coming from the perspective of one who used to build powered armor out of cardboard and foam) such as the empowerment, expressive freedom, and creativity… it’s the technical precision and claver translation of comic and anime designs into a practical, physical look that blows me away. So. As we wait for the almost-assuredly controversial costume design for Captain Marvel, I keep going back to this particular photomanip. If they just put Brie Larson in this costume, as is, straight from the books, no helmet, no fauhawk even necessary, it would be PERFECT. Just saying: we’ve reached a tipping point the last few years where Hollywood struggles to catch up to homegrown cosplay designs rather than vice versa.

Meanwhile, somewhere in space, this may all be happening RIGHT NOW:

Here’s a new movie in which Jason Momoa throws a flaming axe. So, at this point, they just film him wandering around Momoaing about, and call it a day. Guiness!

Edge of Tomorrow 2, aka All You Need is More Kill Toleyou!, may be sooner to production than originally estimated. Which suits me fine.

Showcase Cinemas on the East Coast of the US are featuring a return of The Dark Knight to the big screen, two dates in February, entirely too far for me. But man!

I’m looking forward to Ant-Man and Wasp, mostly because we haven’t seen a ton of interesting married-hero dynamics in film, and I’d love to see that handled intelligently.

John Francis Daley and Jon Goldstein have been tapped to direct Flashpoint, which is interesting, as they co-wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming… but the news that overshadowed this is that apparently WB tried to get Affleck to direct it, and he declined. Which is only interesting because it pokes a hole in WB’s recent rhetoric through ‘gossip sites’ that they have been trying to push him out. Anyway, good on them.

I’m bored of Millar’s Kick-Ass, but I’ll NEVER bore of Tessa Thompson, so I second the motion.

All this talk about Jake Gyllenhaal as the most likely pick for a post-Affleck Batman is interesting to me. I’ve been reacting to it negatively, but more based on my impression of him and how he’s looked in the films I’ve seen, in which he’s leaner, and has a big head and very unusual facial features. But I’ve looked at his Southpaw stuff, and frankly, like Jon Bernthal, it’s very possible he could reclaim this character and mold it into his own iteration successfully. I mean, to be fair, I didn’t think ANY of the film Batman looked like either Batman OR Bruce Wayne… until Affleck, frankly, who suffered from poor scripting and direction, rather than not making the character SOUND and feel right.

Not only is The Boys still going forward, produced by Rogen and Goldberg (Preacher), they’ve been casting. How is this going to even.

Denis Villeneuve made some enemies in an interview released yesterday, noting his plan to make his Dune the ‘Star Wars for adults’… admittedly I’m a fan of his projects, but I did not take that the wrong way. In fact, how interesting would it be if he took a page from Jodorosky?

John Wick 3 is greenlit, adding to the TV series also in development. More on this once I’ve watched John Wick 2, on my next trip overseas. Update: saw it.

Ron Cephas has been cast as the ancient hand-wavey wizard Shazam in the new film, which I find interesting. Love it, actually.

Doesn’t it feel like the producers of the He-Man film were just trolling us with this? Literally ALL they need to do is just take cosplayer interpretations of He-Man costumes and have at it.

A Robocop film may be in development, as a sequel to the original and sidestepping both the original sequels and the remake… which kind of saddens me, because I DID like the casting and design work for the remake itself… it just needed more thematic power.

Babish’s latest opus is the every meat burrito… I haven’t watched that show, but I love the effort…

More Altered Carbon, this time a full trailer. I did not expect the man out of time situation.

Another day, another Director defection from Gambit. This, just as Fox released the schedule for the upcoming supers films in active development. It’s still pretty strange that Fox is putting Deadpool 2 within two weeks of Han Solo. Even if the negotiations for final contract on the merger/sale are going to take years, you’d think they’d already be moving these projects a bit farther apart…

Duncan Jones’ Mute hits Netflix next month, along with Altered Carbon. I’m never leaving the house. Except for when I leave the house.

It’s early yet, so I’ll be convinced when it’s officially greenlit, but the Black Widow film has been assigned a screenwriter, which is 100% more than they’ve done on this project so far. And, while I would prefer an espionage film similar in tone to Winter Soldier, it sounds like it might be a Lady Liberators situation.

These are amazing: Desktop dumpsters, sized for magazines and thereabouts. Ready for your graffiti skills. Or skillz, if you are young (or too old)… and while we’re at it, I also need a Vestaboard, THANKS.

We’re recovering from Heroes and Villains Fanfest/ Walker Stalker Con, but more to follow, including a show roundup…

Robot’s Root for 10 January 2018 – a roundup of stuff and things that may or may not be happening…

Adding Matt the Radar Tech into SW: Battlefront II is the best anything ever for today. I’m sold.

Apparently, if you want to avoid some legal difficulty, owning firearms with the Punisher logo on them is a bad idea. Especially pink ones… I guess. What about swords? What are the rules on Punisher logos?

Black Lightning isn’t a character I’m overly familiar with, but the fact that the live action show has been launched is a good thing, I think. Now, Thunder, his daughter, has a design element I really appreciate: a TRDL design style high collar! Ha! Stoked.

More trailer action for the new Black Widow film, Red Sparrow… WAIT. The poster, up top, I quite like, with the focus on the eye.

DeWanda Wise has joined the stellar cast of Captain Marvel. No word on the character, though wouldn’t it be interesting if there’s a Binary component to this script? Anyway, she’s rad as hell, so that’s a thing.

How is it that the Workaholics guys can just make whatever film they want at this point? It’s like a tighter band version of the Rogen gang.

Listen, I had high hopes for Robin Hood… but it’s starting to give me a Ladyhawke vibe. I mean, I had low hopes. But now I have lower hopes.

Runaways has been renewed for S02 on Hulu, despite not having finished S01. I feel like it fell apart towards the back half, but it’s still serviceable. Not that this can be said for that abysmal looking Inhumans series. Guh.

Han Solo mayyyyyyy have just gone back in for 3 more weeks of reshoots… pretty late in the game. Ron Howard knows what he’s doing, so no panic. Other than the general anxiety about this film existing in the first place, I guess…

This one took me by surprise: Derrickson of Doctor Strange may be cooking a live-action adaptation of one of my favorite cyberpunk books of the 80s, Effinger’s ‘When Gravity Fails’, which is set in a futureshock Middle East. INTERESTING.

It’s been a bit, but the Robot-Kraken Podcast is back, featuring Thom and guest-host Blake ‘B-Money’ Simmons, waxing elaborate about Blade Runner 2049, more Blade Runner 2049, also Blade Runner 2049. We also talk about Spider-Man: Homecoming, and various entertainment news items from the close of 2017. This compilation features recordings from October and November 2017 and a bit from December. That’s how it is when sailing the seas of sweet-as…

Do you want to hear HOURS of blather about Blade Runner 2049? Me too… and I was THERE.

Do you enjoy the in’s and outs of Peter Parker’s ways and means? Right there with you!

And perhaps most importantly, do you thrill at seeing my reflection in Blake’s bottle of Blade Runner Special Edition Johnnie Walker Black, via videoconference? Well… you should.

Speaking of, there are two Sucking the Monkey segments in this episode:

First session:

Blake: Gatorade, due to deathly ill situation

Thom: The Niander Meander* [ Rum and Coke served in a Blade Runner glass]

Please note: click those links, buy or rent from Amazon, and we get pennies. I think!

:::

ROBOT KRAKEN is a MONTHLY podcast by two indie artists, Kristopher McClanahan of Deeply Dapper and Thom Chiaramonte of the Third Rail Design Lab. We get together and talk about comics, movies, working the table at comic cons, life in this nerdy wonderland, and whatever mumblings from the deep we come across. You can find out more about us, contact us or follow along our journey at robot-kraken.com

The only three things I can find to be positive about Bumblebee: The Damn Movie are, in no particular order:

No Michael Bay

Bumblebee is a Bug FFS

Hailey Steinfeld

Maybe that WAS the right order.

Robot’s Root!

This comparison between Force Awakens and the Knights of the Old Republic storyline was pretty good. Had I any knowledge of the latter, maybe I would have detected some of this. Or not.

Every time Neil Blomkamp posts concept art from his axe-murdered Alien 5 treatment, I get frustrated.

I know this isn’t the most popular opinion, but I for one would want to see those extra hours of Blade Runner 2049… speaking of which, Ridley Scott’s elder man ego is spinning out… these comments are nuts.

Rian Johnson is supposedly set to begin filming scenes for the new trilogy in 2018… without a script, or even a stated concept… so at most, I hope it’s establishing shot set pieces… I mean, a road is nice. I like roads.

The most obvious conclusion reached from the linkbait comments that ‘Thor will undergo a dramatic transformation in Infinity Tole’ is a loss of an arm, as per the comics some years back… I’d like to see Thanos rip a Thor arm off…

Hailey Steinfeld wants to be Joss Whedon’s Batgirl, if these misleading interview comments are to be believed. I would not mind. She’s fit, athletic, has a great expressive face, and has been acting since she was a wee one (remember True Grit? Long before the pop singer phase)… I had a different fantasy casting for this role, but maybe we’ll get to that sometime in 2018 on the podcast if a couple of other rubes get their shit together…

On the heels of the failed Dark Universe, Paramount is hurtling forward with the Hasbroverse, announcing dates for GI Joe, Micronauts and others… despite not having scripts or a plan. Sounds about right. Dungeons and Dragons AGAIN. Guh.

Here’s an interview with Neal Scanlan about creature work on TLJ… if you are into that sort of thing, which I am…

I still can’t even with this fever dream. It might be great. Mortal Engines…

I have an intense need to clean up and sort this mess… while eating THIS, of course.

Lung and I traded finds in this vein… this was my favorite of the Star Wars ones. Still looking for the perfect Deckard one.

Cloverfield 3 comes out in April… but with no name yet and no promos. Which is fine. They played it fast and loose with the last “sequel”… I’m still on board, ESPECIALLY if it is indeed space based as rumored. The cast alone!

True Detective S03 is shaping up to be pretty exciting to this guy: three time periods, the Ozarks, now Dorff joins Ali? Damn

Belated Root! This was written and scheduled to post right before Xmas… but since the Internet is now ruined, it did not.

Good news. The Dark Phoenix movie swears it passes the Bechdel Test. Pretttttty low bar, but then again, look what we’ve become.

Just failed to resist watching the new BP international trailer. I swear this one is going to be almost as fun color theory as Coco… the shots are breathtakingly arranged.

I just read this satirical article about how terrible A-Wings are… and it reminded me: I used to hate, but now love, B-Wings. Somewhere in my late 30’s I fell in love with asymmetry. Admittedly the Falcon still bothers me, but it’s more of a line of sight thing.

I don’t mind waiting until 2019 for a Stranger Things 3. It takes time to do it right. My one concern is that kids age up pretty rapidly. But hey. Can’t stop biology.

Supposedly a Ben Kenobi film will begin production in 2019 for release in 2020. I still have my doubts on this project, if it’s on Tattooine. I’d like to mine a different well and tell a story that doesn’t involve that planet. I can imagine a number of interesting explorations post Ep VIII that could be fun, and even pair a few legacy characters in an interesting way. What if he goes into hiding but Boba Fett is on the hunt? We could see him on the run across numerous cool worlds, and outsmarting the supposedly best bounty hunter in the galaxy, a cat and mouse game where the pair are almost equal, until Kenobi lands in Tattooine and manages to stay below Fett’s radar despite his employer in IV. There, Disney. Free.

I didn’t think I’d be interested, but hot damn is this animation style not working for this project! Looks awesome.

Jessica Jones S02 trailer is up. My favorite detail was her receiving a Maleev cover as a painting or some such.

My response to the Battle Angel Alita trailer was initially so severe I didn’t have interest in actually WATCHING it. The eyes killed me. But I finally did. And you know what? I still think this literal reaction to anime is an art school experiment gone awry… but the rest of it looks like good cyberpunk. I really like the translucency and detail in her arms.

Your chance of being accidentally murdered by a pizza bot in SF has reduced dramatically. And by accidentally, I mean on purpose, because robots.

Having apparently learned nothing from the Dark Universe implosion, Paramount have announced a number of release dates for Hasbro properties, without any concept to guide them. There’s some real gems in there… maybe even a Jem… ha. I mean no. But maybe.

Stay tuned for fresh Root, as well as more info on the next Robot-Kraken podcast episode and our upcoming convention appearances, later this week!